An every day account of a small racing yard and the highs and lows....

Monday, 18 April 2016

Still no Spud and we are sick with worry now. The terrier men are here at the moment using an infra red camera down badger holes to see if he is stuck. We have got massive badger holes all over the estate so it is difficult to know where to start. Up until now I haven't known him to go down holes so my gut feeling is that he has been picked up/stolen by someone as he is so friendly. He has been chipped and has his name and telephone number on his collar, so it is clearly someone who has no intention of returning him. We have put it all over face book and the whole village are all on the look out for him so hopefully he will become 'too hot to handle' and be returned.... We can only live in hope.
The Atherstone yesterday was as we expected, desperate ground. We only ran Velvet Cloud (El Raven) and Velvet Steel (Tik and Nick Meek)) to try and get a start into Tik as she refused to race last time. The instructions were to pull up as soon as they were tired, but I was absolutely delighted to not only see Tik start with enthusiasm but both grey mares thoroughly enjoying themselves hunting around and still hard on the bridle two from home. They ended up being third and fourth respectively out of ten which we were absolutely delighted with. Tic looked particularly impressive as she did it so easily for a first time on the track.

About Me

Pauline has been race riding her own horses in point to points for 15 years and is now training with Doug. Pauline has recently got her trainers permit. They are both passionate about National Hunt racing and achieving maximum potential from their horses in the best possible way. This is why ‘Equine Fitness’ is a very exciting new business for them.
In 2006 Doug eventually plucked up the courage (it only took 7 years!) to propose to Pauline whilst they were on holiday in the Maldives and they married in the Lake District in June 2007.